Three Russian Students on Trial for Torture of Jews at the Moscow University

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The trial of three Russian students, Blizniuk, Chomentchuk and Avbiushev, accused of anti-Semitic practices against their Jewish fellow students has attracted wide attention here in connection with the nation wide campaign against anti-Semitism planned by the Soviet Government.

The three Russian students are charged with torturing two Jewish students who shared their room in the dormitory of the Moscow University. The Jewish students were threatened with death if they revealed the fact of their torture. All three of the accused are members of the Young Communist League.

Another case of anti-Semitic mistreatment of a Jewish worker in a Charkoff factory is reported by “Der Stern,” Charkoff Communist paper.

The Jewish worker, Shor, in the candy factory, Rofter Konditor, was maltrated by the non-Jewish workers. Other 500 workers in the factory, only ten are Jews. The worker Sapozhnikov tormented Shor until he fell unconseious. He was taken to the hospital where he was kept for two weeks, and finally discharged still suffering from the effects of the concussion.

When Shor returned to the factory the rest of the workers jeered at him, saying to Sapozhnikov. “It is a pity you did not kill him. There would be one Jew less.” Shor was dismissed with the explanation that there was a reduction being made in the staff.

Shor pleaded he was the only bread-winner in his family where there was sickness and urged that employees taken on later than he should be dismissed first. His pleas were ignored.

The paper demands a rigorous investigation of the events in the factory.

Stronger measures to combat anti-Semitism were urged4 by the Moscow “Emes” in its issue today.

“Undoubtedly anti-Semitic agitation is becoming part of the every day life of the country.” the paper writes. “Anti-Semitic anecdotes are even circulated among the Communist party members, creating difficulties for Jewish workers in the factories and the unemployed Jewish youth applying for factory work.

“Soviet opinion is not sufficiently mobilized against anti-Semitism and some Soviet circles still maintain their false optimism regarding the danger of anti-Semitism.

“We consider it important to urge the severe punishment not only of anti-Semitic agitators but also of those who seeing anti-Semitic practices do not report them especially party member,” the “Emes” desires.